He stood there facing down his enemy. These morphs didn't move without the order; this one hadn't been given an order yet. Perhaps it was for the better.
"...Commander..."
Were it any other time, he would've expected a cheerful response, genuine admiration of his improvements. Anything but the icy cold silence that met his words.
"This isn't the Commander... this is just an abomination."
He closed his eyes and brought himself back to happier days. Brendan, his sons, Uhai, Ursula, Jan, Nino and himself, all enjoying a peaceful day in the mountains of Bern. Nino was busy tugging on Lloyd's sleeves while Linus laughed. Jan and Brendan talked about old times, breaking occasionally when Uhai would interrupt his silence to voice his thoughts. The playful flirting with Ursula.
"This isn't the time to be caught up in old emotions."
The Commander would've surely said something like that had he caught him like this on such a mission. Yet here he was, right in front of him, speaking not a word. For a brief second, he thought he saw a glimmer of recognition in those monstrous eyes.
"I really didn't want to see you like this."
He moved somewhat closer, hands reaching to a familiar position.
"...All I can give you is one last act of rebellion."
The morph reacted as soon as his knives were drawn, but he was much too fast, not to mention that this natural horror would have no knowledge of his fighting style. He had launched the attack well before he saw the glint of Basilikos; the monster fell limp to the ground, face up. Yet as unholy as such a creature was, the eyes were alive with recognition and a faint smile on his face; almost as if to thank him for killing him.
A single tear welled up in his eye. He blinked, then squeezed his eye tight. He could mourn the loss later; he wasn't through with these abominations yet.